الفهرس 
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Abstract
Ramadan is the 9th lunar month of the Hijra year. Muslims ughout the world fast during Ramadan to fulfill a religious obligation. ing in Islam means exemption from food and drink daily from :lawn to sunset with no restriction on the type or amount of food ke at the rest of day hours. The change in eating patterns and ~quent meals lead to reduced food intake that may alter important ’matic and metabolic responses. A diet that is less than the normal amount of food intake but tlced is sufficient enough to keep a person healthy and active during ladan. A balanced diet improves blood cholesterol profile, reduces :ic acidity, prevents constipation and other digestive problems, and ributes to an active and healthy life style. During Ramadan eating patterns are changed where people take 2 meals and increase the consumption of foods from meat/bean p, bread/cereal group, milk group, vegetable group and fruits group. ts, mixed nut and Ramadan’ s desserts may be eaten as a snack reen iftar and sahor. These changes in dietary habits affect the tional status of all family members, included adolescents. Adolescence is the period of life beginning with the appearance of ndary sex characteristics and ending with the cessation of somatic 1,,1. growth. Adolescents have been found to have the highest prevalence, of unsatisfactory nutritional status. Two important changes occurring during adolescence can cause a crisis in the teenager’s nutritional needs. First, the growth in height, weight and body components is greater and more rapid than at any time since infancy. Second, adolescent’s eating habits may change from regular meals prepared at home to irregular meals, skipped meals, nutrition poor snacks and fast food meals. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of fasting during the month of Ramadan on nutritional status of schools adolescents aged between 11-15 years in Alexandria using cross-sectional approach. The study was conducted on 405 students (boys and girls) from Muslims who fast the month of Ramadan and were apparently healthy. This study was carried out in Ramadan month of year 1422 of Hijra, which started at 16th of November 2001 and finished at 15th of December 2001. Data was collected by persona] interview for each student twice before Ramadan and after Ramadan to collect data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, food habits, dietary intake besides data regarding anthropometric measurements (weight, height) and laboratory parameters (Hb, Hct, RBCs count and its indices). Data was analyzed using the computer of Statistic’s laboratory of High Institute of Public Health. The data was presented mathematically in the form of arithmetic mean and standard deviation.